SAN JOSE -- Saying "it's time for peace," a federal judge Wednesday urged the CEOs of Apple and Samsung to try one last time to settle their legal feud before a jury decides their multibillion-dollar smartphone and tablet war.

With the trial in its third week, U.S. District Judge Lucy Koh told lawyers for the two sides to have the executives speak, at least by phone, before the case goes to jury deliberations next week. Lawyers for both companies assured Koh that Samsung CEO Choi Gee-Sung and Apple CEO Tim Cook would consult again.

The two executives met in court-ordered settlement discussions before trial, but could not resolve their differences.

Koh said that Apple and Samsung had already proved to the world that "there is (intellectual property) in their devices," adding: "Mission accomplished."

"I see risk here for both sides," the judge said.

While the judge's warning could spur the two companies to rethink their positions, legal experts say a settlement at this juncture is unlikely. Mark Lemley, a Stanford University law professor, said Apple and Samsung would more likely settle their worldwide legal struggle based on the outcome of the trial.

Added Brian Love, a Santa Clara University law professor closely following the case: "At this point, the parties have taken their best shots at one another and spent quite a lot of money doing so. There is a natural inclination ... for both sides at this juncture of the case to overestimate their odds of winning and to wait and see whether their investment ... will now pay dividends."

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Apple has sued Samsung, alleging the South Korean tech giant has "slavishly copied" the iPhone and iPad. Apple is asking the jury to award at least $2.5 billion in damages, and will ask the judge to block continued sales of a variety of Samsung devices in the United States if a jury agrees with their claims.

Samsung denies copying Apple's products in its smartphones and tablets, and has countersued Apple, alleging the Cupertino company has infringed some Samsung basic patents.

Apple has rested its case, while Samsung on Wednesday continued to present its witnesses.

In addition to several expert witnesses who testified against Apple's patent rights, Samsung put Jin Soo Kim, a tablet and smartphone designer, on the stand to tell the jury that Samsung was developing its Galaxy tablet and smartphones before Apple released its iPhone and iPad.

Kim was the second company designer Samsung put on the stand. He denied relying on Apple's iPhone to design smartphones, but said nothing about whether there was any copying of the iPad, saying only that the Galaxy designs were in the works before its release. Apple maintains that internal Samsung reports and emails show the company was on notice its designs were too similar to the iPad and iPhone.

Samsung is expected to finish its case Thursday. However, Apple has some rebuttal witnesses left, including another iPhone designer.

Closing arguments are expected Tuesday, and the jury is likely to begin deliberating by the next day.